PRIME Minister David Cameron visited the storm-hit Westcountry this week and declared that the South Hams is open for business.

Mr Cameron was visiting Dawlish to view the site of the wrecked railway line, which has cut off the South Hams from the rest of the country, for himself.

He said: 'We have to send out the message that Devon and the Westcountry is open for business and tourism and people should be encouraged to come here.'

Meanwhile, Ivybridge MP Gary Streeter said it is unacceptable that the far south west should be cut off by rail from the rest of the country.

And he has warned the Government that he will withdraw his support from the controversial HS2 high speed rail link unless he gets a 'positive outcome' from the Westcountry rail crisis.

Mr Cameron was in the south west on Tuesday for the second day running to see for himself the impact of the storms which have been hitting local coastlines for weeks on end – especially the wrecked rail line at Dawlish.

He assured people including commuters from across the South Hams: 'This rail link will be re-established in the six-week timetable. This line does have a future, it is incredibly beautiful and scenic part of our infrastructure.

'It is challenged by the weather but we will bring all our resources to make sure it can be back up and running.

'I am glad I came to see it myself as you don't get the sheer scale of the collapse in photos and on television.'

He added: 'Network Rail are working as hard as they can, they have a good plan and we have promised everything we can to help.

'But we need to look at the resilience of the line in the long term and see what other alternatives may be available.

'It makes sense and it is right to review and consider these alternatives and any other proposals.

'In the short term though, we have to get the line open.

'Longer term we need to see what more we can do to improve the sea defences.'

South Hams rail commuters face six weeks of rail travel chaos as Network Rail continues its battle to reopen the storm wrecked line at Dawlish.

Mr Streeter said that since the storm washed away the track and seawall at Dawlish, 'life has not quite been the same'.

He said: 'Endless meetings to try and get the right response and the right level of focus on both the immediate problem and longer term solutions.

'I am pleased that the government is taking this very seriously and is committed to sorting it out.

'Network Rail has responded very quickly to get some heavy muscle in place in Dawlish and have a clear timetable to complete that complex operation. I always felt six weeks is optimistic, but time will tell.

While the MP is demanding an immediate repair to the rail line, he is also urging the Government to look at alternative rail routes through Devon.

He said: 'I have spoken to most of my MP colleagues about this matter and there are, shall we say, a variety of views, flowing largely from the fact that we are elected to do the best for our constituency first and foremost.

'So, some favour sticking with the existing route but protecting the sea wall more forcibly, some favour resurrecting the old Tavistock line, others wish us to explore the prospect of tunnelling under Haldon Hill to make a direct and fast link between Newton Abbot and Exeter.

'Many constituents have also emailed me with their suggestions, for which I am grateful. All of the ideas will be fed into the review when it begins.

'I am increasingly drawn to the Haldon Hill option. Apparently British Rail – as was – had just started to look at this seriously, including some exploratory tunnelling, when the Second World War broke out in 1939.

'Tunnelling is much easier these days with modern equipment and once in place such a rapid link would increase resilience dramatically.

'It would also mean that the railway towns of Totnes and Newton Abbot do not get by-passed, which is one major problem with the Okehampton suggestion.

'We will see what the review brings. Whatever the solution, it will clearly cost a fortune. I have made it clear to ministers that my support for HS2 can no longer be guaranteed, unless we have a positive outcome to this, the most pressing issue facing our region.'

Totnes MP Dr Sarah Wollaston said: 'On the matter some have raised about where a hypothetical inland line would go and I know there has been some discussion of a line that would run from Exeter to Okehampton and then down to Plymouth.

'I would be unequivocally opposed to such a measure if this was to be the only line as I am not prepared to accept a solution to this problem that compromises rail services at Totnes or Newton Abbot.

'I have met several times with First Great Western and Network Rail since the election and have always pressed upon them the importance of a full and proper service at Totnes, I will continue to do so.'

The Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin visited Dawlish last Friday to see for himself the impact of the massive storms on the rail network.

South West Councils' Chair and Devon County Council Leader John Hart today praised the swift response to the region's rail problems and emphasised that the South West is open for business.

Mr Hart said there had been a coordinated response to the unprecedented situation caused by the severe storms.

'I want to thank First Great Western, Cross Country and South West Trains for the way they have arranged a timetable of alternative coaches and reduced prices as a concession to travellers for the disruption,' he said.

'And I want to commend all the rail companies for their swift responses to the landslip in Somerset this weekend so that the Waterloo line to Exeter is open again today along with the Exeter to Paddington line.

'National Express and Flybe are laying on extra coaches and flights to the south west and I want to commend them for pledging not to hike prices to take advantage.

'When I met the Transport Secretary on Friday I emphasised the need for an urgent and co-ordinated response by Government and I think the Prime Minister's visit today is evidence of the importance he places on resolving our problems. But I must reiterate the south west's very real need for extra financial help to enable us to deal with all the repairs needed on our roads.

'I welcome the Government's pledge to resume dredging on the Somerset Levels and to launch an urgent review of how to improve the resilience of our rail network throughout the far south west. We can't control the weather but we can make sure that we are better able to cope with the sort of extreme weather we have seen this winter.

'And we must do it urgently.

'In the meantime, we must all join together to proclaim that south west is open for business and that we are eager for visitors to come and are geared up for firms to invest here and boost our economy and provide good, well-paid jobs for our people.

'It may take a little longer to get here temporarily but we are investing in the facilities that businesses need and there is a warm welcome awaiting them.

'Lastly I want to pay a heartfelt tribute to the wonderful community spirit that has been shown throughout the south west over these last few days.

'People often bemoan the lack of community in modern society but I think this emergency has shown that when the chips are down there is still real kindness and a willingness to help across our communities in the south west.'

Network Rail said engineers worked though the weekend to protect the most damaged section of sea wall in Dawlish.

Around 80m of seawall was destroyed by high tides and massive waves causing a significant stretch of railway to collapse into the sea.

The road adjacent to the railway and several houses have also been damaged, along with damage at Dawlish station itself and several other sites in the area.

Rail and concrete sleepers that once carried trains along the sea wall have been cut away and placed across the bottom of the damaged section. These are gradually being reinforced with sprayed fast-drying concrete, which will form a temporary barrier to take the brunt of today's forecast heavy seas.

It is hoped this will absorb enough of the force of the waves so that the weakened sub-soil, which is very soft, will not erode further. The most damaged platform at Dawlish station has been demolished and will be rebuilt in the coming weeks.

A spokesman said a full assessment of repairs would come with calmer weather, along with a revised timescale. Initial assessments are that it will be at least six weeks to completion from when work begins.

Network Rail has mobilised a range of specialist contractors, engineers and suppliers from across the country to help with the work needed at Dawlish and has also taken up the offer of discussions with the Ministry of Defence to see if there is any help which can be provided by armed forces personnel based in the south-west.

Dr Molly Scott Cato, the Green Party's lead candidate in the south west for the 2014 European elections, who went to the scene of the damaged railway as part of a planned visit to Totnes on Friday, said: 'The people of south Devon and Cornwall have been aware for years that the coastal line through Devon is vulnerable and now is the time to kick start projects to explore re-tracking both the Bere Alston-Tavistock-Okehampton and the Newton Abbott-Heathfield-Teign Valley-Exeter routes.

'Restoring these would provide more reliability for inter-city travellers as well as benefiting local communities and economies around Dartmoor.'

The Department for Transport said it had been working closely with transport providers across the south west so that arrangements are in place to keep people moving.